Ask me what is wrong?
Nope.
Well, it is clayton.
I passed him in the hallway
Und said good morning,
Und he
Totally ignored me.
I said,
Clayton totally ignored me.
Smart man.
It's a skill
I'd like to develop.
He writes
One lousy bill,
Hasn't even passed yet,
Und he thinks he's kaiser
Of the hill.
Well, kraus, it's a pretty good
Piece of legislation.
Well, why is his name
On it?
For pete's sake,
It was his idea.
Boy, I have lots
Of ideas.
Nobody ever gives me
Any credit.
That's not true.
Just the other day,
The governor said, "Whose stupid
Piece of nonsense is this?"
And I gave you credit.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Benson,
Do you have my copy
Of the endicott
Commercial development act?
I don't know.
Kraus, do I have that?
Ja.
Ja?
Well, where is it?
So now you
Are talking to me, eh?
Find it yourself,
Birdbeak.
Where is my bill?
It's on the desk, clayton,
Somewhere. Look for it.
I don't have time.
I have a meeting in five minutes
With senator hartford.
Uh-huh.
We polled the committee.
It's going to be very close.
One vote --
Senator hartford's vote.
Well, good luck.
What does that mean?
What don't you understand,
"Good" or "Luck"?
[ telephone rings ]
Hello?
Yes. Unfortunately,
He's right here.
Well, I'll tell him.
What?
With all due respect, sir,
I'd rather not.
Oh, well, you may be right
About that.
Okay.
Ah, ah, ah!
Good, I found it.
Good.
Endicott.
Let's get going.
They're waiting for us.
Us? What do you mean us?
You're not invited.
Yes, I am.
The governor just invited me.
Well, I'm uninviting you.
I don't need you.
Clayton...
I didn't want to go,
Believe me.
But the governor
Insisted.
What did he say?
He said, "I insist."
Governor, as much
As I might be disposed
To vote for this bill,
Politically, it takes me
To a gray area
Vis-à-vis my
Previously stated position.
Well, I'm in something
Of a pickle myself.
You see, senator hartford,
I really believe this bill
Will contribute to the economic
Stability of our state.
Well, now, I admit
That is a possibility.
The problem is, governor,
I've been such a vocal advocate
For conservation.
The idea of
The commercial development
Of our state parks --
I don't know.
But you haven't made up
Your mind one way or the other?
No, I haven't.
Good.
All I ask is an open mind.
Morning, governor.
Hi, diane.
It's been a long time.
Too long.
Could we get started
With this meeting?
Benson?
Oh, yeah, sure.
Now, uh, the purpose
Of this little gathering
Is to ascertain
Exactly why senator hartford
Is being so pigheaded
About supporting my bill.
I beg your pardon?
See? That's why
I wanted you here.
Clayton...
Why don't you find out
What the senator thinks
Before you start
Calling her names?
Benson, this is my ball game.
I'm up at bat.
Okay, casey,
You got it.
It is my feeling
That the bill has not
Been properly thought out.
Aha, you see?
Pigheaded.
Strike one.
It's just that the language
In paragraph
Is very difficult
To understand.
Well, with all due respect,
Senator,
Only a moron
Could fail to understand it.
Strike two.
Mr. Endicott,
Only a moron
Would ignore the impact
This could have
On our natural resources.
Please, sweetheart.
We're not going to burn bambi
Out of the forest.
Strike three.
Would you please keep
Your snide remarks to yourself?
Clayton.
Why don't you just back off
And calm down?
Sir, it isn't fair.
This is my meeting.
It's my bill.
It's mine!
Okay, maybe you better
Hit the showers.
Fine, fine.
Take my name
Off the bill!
Take it off!
Take it off!
You're out of here!
Forgive me, senator.
I'd just like to have
A little chat with mr. Endicott,
Up close and personal.
So, how do you like the game
So far?
Well, mr. Endicott certainly
Lives up to his reputation.
That he does.
That he does.
About this bill that's
All over the floor here...
I just wanted you to know
That the governor and I
Share your concerns
About the environment.
But, benson, what about
Future administrations?
Well, I think that's covered
In paragraph .
I don't.
I think paragraph
Is wishy-washy.
Okay, well,
Let's take a look at it.
It's down here somewhere.
Well, here,
Let me help you.
Okay.
You find anything yet?
Uh, I've got
Paragraph .
I got --
Here's paragraph .
We seem to be
Moving in on it.
[ laughs ]
Is that you
That smells so good?
No, they shampooed
The rug.
You realize, of course,
That if anyone came in now,
We'd have a lot
Of explaining to do.
Well, we could just say that we
Took the debate to the floor.
What am I doing?
Just have kraus
Make us up another copy.
Well, I do have another meeting
To get to, benson.
I'll tell you what. Why don't I
Meet you back here at
No, : is no good.
I'm having my picture taken with
The bus driver of the month.
How about
No, I'm sorry.
: I've got a staff meeting.
And that's probably
Gonna run right up to dinner.
Then how about dinner?
Benson, I don't want to take up
Your whole evening with this.
Take it up.
Take it up.
It doesn't
Have to be painful.
Look, we can work out our
Differences and have dinner.
All right.
I'll look forward to that.
Okay.
Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
Dubois is up at bat.
He connects. Sock!
Way back, way back.
Going, going, go--
Excuse me?
No, I was just going.
I'll walk you out.
May I help you?
Yes, yes. Dubois --
Reservation for two.
Dubois, dubois...
Oh, lieutenant governor
Dubois.
You're next.
We'll have a table for you
In just a minute.
Thank you.
Would you mind terribly just
Stepping up here out of the way?
This is nice, benson.
Do you always entertain
Your political opponents
So stylishly?
Only when my political opponents
Are stylish.
I get the feeling
You're trying to flatter me.
Go with that feeling.
I think we need to talk about
Mr. Endicott's bill some more.
You know, I still don't like
The wording.
Well, if you make it
Any tougher,
The developer won't be able
To make a profit.
That's debatable.
Okay, well, why don't we save
The debate until after dinner?
Agreed.
Larry, darling.
Excuse me.
It's so good
To see you.
Kissy, kissy,
Kissy, kissy.
Shame on you
For not making a reservation.
You should have
Called me.
Go right in.
Uh, madam, uh, I don't
Want to make a fuss,
But we were here
Before larry darling.
Uh, yes, but that was
Professor larry fishfeld,
The weekend weatherman.
He's on tv.
Hmm, he's on tv
What does that mean?
He gets our table.
Well,
Look who's here.
Pardon me.
Pardon me.
Welcome, welcome.
Kissy, kissy, kissy.
A nice table
Has just opened up.
Go right on in.
Uh, madam.
Again, excuse me.
I don't want to make a fuss,
But weren't we next in line?
Lieutenant governor,
That was disgraceful.
I said, "Excuse me."
No, no, no, no, no.
They're a very famous
Rock group.
Where have you been?
I guess we must have spent
Too much time here in your line
Waiting for
One of them tables.
You want to
Get out of here?
No, I really don't mind
Waiting.
I hear they have
Great desserts.
Ah, well,
I'm not big on desserts
Unless they have sweet-potato
Pie or something like that.
But looking at this joint,
I doubt it.
Well, you know I make a pretty
Mean sweet-potato pie myself.
Really?
Oh, yeah. All from scratch --
Thick crust, brown sugar,
And fresh
Sweet potatoes.
Those are
The ingredients.
You doubt my ability?
No, no, no, no. I don't doubt
Anything you could do.
I suppose you do
Make a pretty fair to middling
Sweet-potato pie.
I make the best.
Mm-hmm.
I guess I'll just have to
Take your word for that, though.
No, you don't have to
Take my word for that.
I will take you to my place.
I will bake you a pie.
You'll take me to your place
And bake me a pie now?
What's the matter
With now?
Since we're not gonna get
A table from kissy-kissy.
Oh, it'll take
At least a couple of hours
To bake a sweet-potato pie,
Won't it?
Is that a problem?
I've got all night.
Curiously, so do I.
Let's flee
This firetrap.
Lieutenant governor,
I have your table.
Hang on to it,
Kissy-kissy.
[ smooches ]
Good morning, kraus.
You're looking lovely
Today.
Well, benson, I understand you
Und senator hartford
Are the new twosome
In town.
Where did you
Hear that?
Professor fishfeld
On the : weather.
Oh, it was a slow night
For weather.
You were a filler.
I guess it wasn't enough for
Fishface that he got my table.
So, uh, what did you and
The senator do after dinner?
Oh, we had
A very sweet --
None of your business.
Good morning.
Did you hear senator hartford
Changed her mind?
She's gonna
Vote for clayton's bill.
You're kidding.
So you must have really made
Progress with her last night.
I get the impression
They made a lot of progress.
Kraus, give it a rest.
Did I miss something?
What's going on?
Let's just say politics
Makes strange bedfellows.
Ha ha.
Oh!
Benson!
Well, I'm really surprised.
I didn't expect you to go
This far for the administration.
Jiminy crickets.
Jiminy crickets?
Look, I didn't do anything
For the administration --
Assuming I did do something,
Which I'm not saying I did.
Benson, benson, benson.
What a pal.
This man single-handedly
Saved my bill.
What can I do
To thank you?
I'm gonna throw you a party
In my office in minutes.
Ha ha ha!
I'm serving champagne...
Domestic, but very nice.
Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Let me
Set you people straight.
Now, the only business that went
On between me and the senator
Had nothing to do with
Clayton's bill.
Now, we simply
Had a lovely evening,
And we renewed a relationship
That began some time ago.
And I can assure you
That it had nothing to do with
Her changing her mind.
Listen, benson,
Whatever you say.
Ja, sure.
I'm telling you,
It had nothing to do with
Her changing her mind!
Miss kraus and governor: sure.
Well, well, well,
Little miss gatling.
What are you doing home
From school, playing hooky?
No, I didn't have class.
I was working at the capital.
Ooh, that's right.
Excuse me.
You're a page now.
[ chuckles ]
Listen, sweetheart, let me
Give you a little bit of advice.
You want to make it in the big,
Bad world of politics,
You've got to ferret out
The people with clout.
Then you do anything
And everything to impress them.
Sounds a lot like
Kissing up.
Well, listen, kid, you want to
Make it in this business,
You pucker up
And like it.
Katie, clayton.
Hi, benson.
Benson,
Benson, benson.
How is our
Congressional casanova?
I don't want to discuss that
Right now.
You know
Where I'm coming from?
[ clears throat ]
I have totally dug you.
I am hep.
Give me five, my man.
Rolled up or flat?
Later, k*ller.
[ chuckles ]
Don't worry, benson --
I already know what happened
With you and the senator
Last night.
Katie, this is not a topic
For polite conversation.
Come on, benson.
I'm a teenager.
I feel perfectly comfortable
Discussing sex.
Yeah? Well, then go discuss it
With your dad
So I can
Feel comfortable.
Hi, benson.
Oh, hi, diane.
Uh, katie,
Would you excuse us?
No problem.
I'll go talk to my dad.
Boy, is he in
For a surprise.
You little dickens.
Uh, would you like
A cup of coffee, diane?
No, thank you,
Benson.
I had some time before the
Committee vote this afternoon,
So I thought I'd drop by and see
If you were free for lunch.
Sure, let's go.
There's something I want to
Talk to you about.
What's that?
Well, we can discuss it
Over lunch.
Oh, come on, benson.
You got me curious. What is it?
Well, frankly,
It's been bothering me
Why you changed your mind
On that bill.
Oh, I suppose I did it
To make you happy.
That's what
I was afraid of.
Obviously
You're not happy.
You were
Against the bill.
Not exactly.
And besides, you made some very
Persuasive arguments for it.
So you changed your vote
Just to make me happy?
I was also under the impression
I was doing you a favor.
I don't want favors
That jeopardize your integrity.
Benson, let me worry about
Who jeopardizes my integrity.
Diane, I think you're mixing
Personal feelings with politics,
And that's wrong.
I think you are really
Overreacting on this thing.
You're completely missing
My point.
The hell I am!
I think you're being
Very unappreciative.
Look...
Diane...
Maybe we should
Change the subject.
Maybe we should.
Fine.
Let's go to lunch.
Let's not.
I'm not very hungry.
Let's go to a restaurant, then,
That serves lousy food.
Benson,
We were just at --
Benson, how could --
What do you --
Where the --
Why did --
When --
Why --
What -- what -- what --
Whoa! Whoa!
Sounds like the belt
In his brain is slipping.
We just saw senator hartford
At the capital.
She said that
After talking to you,
She's decided not to support
The bill, after all.
Is that so?
Why couldn't you
Leave well enough alone?
Why did you have to tamper
With my success?
Why?! Why?!
Why?! Why?!
Why?! Why?! Why?!
Is that it?
Why?!
I figured
There was one left.
Exactly what did you say
To senator hartford?
Well, it was personal.
And besides, governor,
With all due respect,
It's none
Of your business.
Why did you have to
Get personal with her?
Clayton, it had nothing
To do with your bill.
Yes, it did. My bill is dead.
You k*lled it.
Assassin!
Don't you point that finger
At me!
All right.
Now, put your fingers away,
And let's act like gentlemen.
Well, if we're gonna
Act like gentlemen,
Clayton's gonna have to
Put his mouth away, too.
Benson --
Why?!
Clayton!
Now, I'd like to ask you
A question.
Did this personal conversation,
Which is none of my business,
Have any effect
On the senator's decision?
Look, I was concerned that the
Senator had voted for that bill
Because of her feelings
For me,
And I didn't want her
To do that.
You can understand that,
Can't you, governor?
Well, yes, I suppose so.
Well, I can't.
That doesn't surprise me.
[ knock on door ]
Excuse me.
Benson, senator hartford
Is here to see you.
She is?
Send her in.
[ growls ]
Clayton, sit!
Oh!
Gentlemen,
Good afternoon.
Senator.
Lieutenant governor.
Senator.
Well, what brings you here,
Senator?
Did you drop by
To give us the bad news?
As a matter of fact,
Mr. Endicott, I have good news.
The committee
Has passed your bill.
It passed?
My bill passed?
So you decided to vote for
The bill after all?
No, I abstained, and because
It was a tie vote --
It passed to the floor.
That's terrific!
She abstained!
From what?
Never mind, governor.
Senator, needless to say,
We are deeply grateful.
Now, I am not often given to
The graphic display of emotion,
But [smooching]
Clayton, clayton, clayton.
And, benson.
[ smooches ]
And, governor.
Get out!
Well.
So, why did you
Decide to abstain?
Well, I thought about
What you said earlier,
And you may be right.
Thank you.
Then again,
You may be wrong.
But since I wasn't sure,
I decided to abstain.
Well,
Look at it this way,
It'll go before the senate,
And it'll be open for debate.
Benson,
I want you to know,
I do plan to make an issue
Of paragraph .
Oh, that's okay.
I have a feeling
We're gonna be on opposite
Sides of the paragraph, anyway.
May the better man win.
I'll look forward to it.
Benson,
About earlier today --
Oh, diane.
Forget it.
Well, I hope this hasn't caused
Any irreparable damage
To our relationship.
"Any irreparable damage
To our relationship."
I love it
When you talk that way.
So, everything's okay?
Nothing that a freshly baked
Sweet-potato pie can't fix.
It's as good as
In the oven.
What do you say we get together
Tomorrow night, babe?
I'm sorry, senator babe.
I don't make you call me
Lieutenant governor.
Okay, once,
But that was just a joke.
Well, frankly, I'm getting kind
Of tired of sweet-potato pie.
Not yours, just anybody's.
Well, couldn't we --
Uh-huh.